Labeling and wrapping machine



Jan. 28, 1936, F. REID ET AL LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 10 sheets -sheet 1 3 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS mm NW 4% m\ M.\ m 4x .ON 2% v a 3 m :N 0 a 0 0 o o .u o m o o k m w z m m w? r L R an a 8 u u Li H. M u n. 9 .Jv o 0 o co 1W0 o /M |k.- c We. n N ww & w a? m x Q Q Jan. 28, 1936. F.,REID El AL 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 m INVENTORS wzzlx 7/124 mm A TTORNE Y5 Jan. 28, 1936. RE) ET AL 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 M WTORS ATTORNEYJ Jan. 28, 1936. F. REID Er AL LABELING- AI ID WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Md) 7g 7612 774 4a m ATTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1936. F. REID ET AL 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 ATTORNEY;

Jan. 28, 1936. i ET AL 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE iled Jan. 13, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 j IZVV NTORS A TTORNEYS Jan. 28-, 1936. F R Er AL 2,U28,92U

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 T s me $5 112. BY

ATTRNYJ Jam.28,1936, F REID EAL v 2,028,92Q

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I61 17 ii A A TTORNEY5 Jan. 28, 1936. F REjD r AL 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 7 INwRS Z Zi f A TTORNEYS Jan. 28,1936. F. REID ETAL I 2,028,920

LABELING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 1o I N VEN TOR,5

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 28, 1936 Forestus Reid, Cincinnati,

and Henry Heitlage,

'St. Bernard, Ohio, assignors to The Procter &

Gamble Company, Cincinnati,

ration of Ohio Ohio, a corpo- Application January 13, 1932, Serial No. 586,278

' 14 Claims.

Our invention relates to labeling and wrapping machines, and particularly to such machines as are adapted to label and wrap cans or cylindrical containers.

Labeling and wrapping machines have been in use for a number of years, in which the containers to be labeled and wrapped are fed into the labeling and wrapping units from a chute conveyor down which the containers roll, or on which they are conveyed in a rolling position. There are certain semi-liquid products, such as lard substitutes and the like, which are filled into the cans or containers in a semi-liquid condition, and in which containers the product, after setting for a definite period, becomes solidified. Between the time of the filling of the cans and their being conveyed to the labeling and wrapping machines, it has been customary to pass the packages on long conveyors to enable the material to set before the cans are labeled and wrapped. If the material has not set at the time the cans are labeled and wrapped, and the cans are conveyed through the labeling and wrapping machines while lying on their sides, the material smudges against the lid and solidifies in this manner so that when the can is opened there is a smudge of the material solidified on the can cover. This is undesirable, and, as has been stated, whenthe ordinary type of labeling and wrapping machine in which the cans are rolled on their sides through the machines has been used, long conveyors on which the cans sit upright have 'been required. These conveyors have taken up a great deal of space and have increased the cost of handling and packaging the product.

It is one of the principal objects of our invention to provide a labeling and wrapping machine unit in which the cans pass through the machines while in upright position, so that regardless of whether the material has or has not set, there will be no smudging of the product against the inner surface of the lid.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a labeling or wrapping machine unit for cans or cylindrical containers, in which the supply of labels or wrappers may be replenished without shutting down the machine and requiring discontinuance of the labeling or wrapping during the time when additional labels or wrappers are placed in feeding position. In wrapping cans, it is old to pass the can along on a conveyor, to place adhesive on the side of the can, to move the can into position where it engages an end of a wrapper, and to then cause the wrapper to be wound around the can by the rolling movement of the can. In feeding cans to a wrapping machine, we have found that to avoid spoilage of wrappers and improper application of the wrappers to the cans, it is very important that the timing be exact. If adhesive is applied to the side wall of the can and the can then does not approach the wrapper which it is to withdraw from the supply so that the adhesive band will register with the near end of the wrapper, an unsatisfactory wrapping job will result.

in advance if the can is not held back and fed to the sprocket-hopper with such a movement that the turning of the sprocket gives to the can all the impetus to cause its movement into the wrapping machine.

In other words, if we have a wrapping machine with a timing sprocket feed, and cans are fed into the sprocket feed with the momentum which they have acquired while moving along the conveyor to the feeder, a little additional momentum carries on after. the can is discharged from the feeder and it runs ahead and so does not register properly with the wrapper which it is topick up.

It is our object. therefore, to provide mechanism in which a seriesof moving cans to be wrapped will not feed into the sprocket feeder unless .there is an accumulated supply of more than one can waiting on the conveyor to be picked up by the hopper feed.

We have described our invention as applying to labeling and wrapping machine units, but it should be understood that the mechanical combinations such, for example, as the device by which labels or wrappers may be replenished without stoppage of the machine and the device for holding back cans so as to insure perfect registry in the machine, apply either to what are ordinarily known as labeling machines, or to what are usually called wrapping machines. A labeling machine is ordinarily referred to as a machine for applying a sheet to the side walls of the can only, and a wrapping machine is ordinarily referred to as a machine whichnot only encloses the sides of the can, but also extends up and down over the top and bottom of the can to completely enclose it in its wrapper.

It should further be understood that our invention in providing a labeling or wrapping machine in which the can is fed through the machine in upright position, applies either to a labeling machine or to a wrapping machine, or to a combination of the two units, such as we will hereinafter describe.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is, a side elevation of a labeling unit for applying labels to a can body.

Figure 2 is a pian view of the labeling unit.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a can wrapping unit, designed to receive cans from a labeling unit and apply a paper wrapper thereto."

Figure 4 is a plan view of the can wrapper unit illustrated in Figure 3. v

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the glue pots or adhesive applying units for the labeling and wrapping units.

pots or adhesive applying units.

Figure '7 is a pian view of one of the giue pots er adhesive applying units, parts of the frame members being shown in section on line F of Figures 1,3, 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse section on lines C of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 of a label or wrapper paper supply and .feed unit.

Figure 9 is a plan View of one of the label or wrapper paper feed units, parts of the frame member being broken away for clearness' in illustration.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the discharge side of the label or wrapper paper feed units, :and illustrates the paper holding devices and adhesive applyingnieans.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the lefthand or receiving end or" the wrapper unit and illustrating the timing mechanism and can retarding devices 4 Figure 12 is a' side elevation of the parts 7 shown Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional elevation of the receivingend of the wrapping unit, the section being on line A of Figures 3, 4, 11 and 12.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a detail of the can release mechanism..

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the parts illustrated in Figure 14. 4

Figure 16 is a vertical transverse section on lines B'-B of Figures 3 and i. of the wrapper unit, and illustrates the clutch drive oi'The can supporting unit.

Figure 1'7 is a side and face elevation of the female clutch member.

Figure 18 is a side and face elevation of the male clutch member.

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the traveling can carrying mechanism.

Figure 20 is .a perspective view of a complete. can without label or wrapper.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a complete can with the label applied.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a complete can, wrapped and ready for sale.

Figure 23 is a plan view of the cam and mechanism operated thereby, for the wrapper paper release, shaft parts being in section on line D of Figure 12.

Figure 24 is a plan view of the paper release finger, parts in section being on line of Figure 10.

Figure 25 is a perspective view cf the ean appearing in broken section.

aosaeao Our complete can labeling and wrapping machine is composed of two distinct units, each performing one step in the operation of labeling and wrapping a can or package.

In the description of, the parts that follow, the labeling 'unit and the wrapping unit of the machine are shown separately, the first unit being 9a. Mounted on the under side of the lower rail Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the glue bearings which support the main drive shaft l2. Mounted on this drive shaft i2 is a sprocket gear 4 are brackets I0 and II.- These brackets have 63, having a chain l4 driven from the sprocket gear So on the reduetion unit 9. The shaft l2 shaft ll, whichhas a bevel pinion lld meshing with the bevel pinion lib of shaft IS. The shaft 57 also has mounted on it, as stated, the pair of grooved pulieys 6. scribed furnishes a power drive for the bait I.

At the left hand end of the shaft i2 is a bevel pinion l8. Mounted in bracket ill 'on the lower.

frame member 2 and in bracket lilo on upper frame member 3, is a vertical shaft l9, this shaft having .on its lower end a gear 20, this gear 20 meshing with gear l8 on drive shaft On shaft 20a, mounted transversely of the frame of the machine, is a roll 2| which is driven by bevel gear 22 on shaft IS, and gear 23 on shaft 20a. A belt 24 passes around this roll El and is the incoming supply belt fortne machine. At the right hand end of the machine is a similar roll 25 carrying an outgoing dehvery belt 26. Mounted on upper and lower frame members 2 and 3 are a series of brackets 21, these brackets being slotted on their under side for'the reception of The combination just de- 1 the labeling mechanism, in which the base of shafts 28 and their bearings, which are free to In the front of the machine rail members 32 are' carried by supports 3211, as shown in Figure 2, forming a sidewise guide for the cans on their way through the machine, the upper guide rail 32 being partly omitted in Figure 1 for the sake of clearness. Se ured to the lower frame memher is a bracket 3 a which carries apair ef forwerdly extending rods 3411, these rods passing through bearings 340 which, at their central portion, receive the support for a pair of short rods 34d which are screwed into the bottom portion of a glue pct 35.

The bracket Ilia at the left hand end of the machine carries an extension bracket 35. Mounted in this extension bracket 35 is a shaft 33, having mounted on its outward end a bevel gear 31, which meshes with a bevel gear 38 on the shaft I9. On the outer end of the shaft 36 is a pulley 39. Extending transversely across the glue pot 34 and mounted in bearings thereon, as shown in Figure 6, is a shaft 40 having, on its left hand outer end, a grooved pulley 4|. A belt 42 is mounted on the pulleys 39 and 4| and furnishes the driving means for the mechanisms within the glue pct 34. The shaft 40 passes through an inner bearing 43 in the frame of the glue pct 34, and has mounted thereon an adhesive supplying disc 44. The disc 44 extends down into the lower part of the glue pot and contacts with a supply of adhesive material therein. Mounted on the shaft 4!], inside the frame of the glue pct 34, is a bevel gear 45.

Carried at the upper part of the glue pot is a pair of bearings 46. Supported in these hearings. 46 is a vertical shaft 41 having secured to its lower end a bevel .pinion 48, this bevel gear 48 being in mesh with the gear on the shaft 48. At the upper end of shaft 41 is secured the sprocket wheel 49. On the right hand side of the glue pct 34, as indicated, there are a pair of bearings 58. Mounted in these bearings 50 is a vertical shaft 5!, having secured on its outer, upper end a sprocket wheel 52. A sprocket chain 53 connects the sprocket wheels 49 and 52 in driving relationship. A series of adhesive delivery discs 54 are mounted in spaced relationship on the shaft 5|, these discs 54 being separated slightly from the adhesive supplying disc 44.

Mounted on the walls of the glue pct 34 is a series of scraper bars 55 which extend across the face of the adhesive supplying disc 44 but which are not in bearing contact therewith, there being a small space between the bars 55 and the disc 44, so that as the disc is driven, a film of adhesive mixture will be left on the face of the disc 44. This film of adhesive will be sufficiently thick to come in contact with the edges of the adhesive delivery discs 54 and supply a film of adhesive to these discs. Should, however, there be an excessive amount of adhesive supplied to the delivery disc 54, scrapers 51, which are secured to the frame of the glue pct 34 and extend inwardly but do not come in contact with the adhesive delivery discs 54, leave a proper film of adhesive on the edges of these adhesive delivery discs 54.

In order that the adhesive material may be kept at proper consistency in all temperaturesy there is provided in the side of the glue pct 34 an opening 51a through which may be inserted any of the commercial electrical heating units such as are provided for this class of work.

At about the center of the length of the labeling unit illustrated, and on one side thereof, is a self-feeding, label holder unit 58. The unit 58 may supply wrappers instead of the narrower labels, but it is to be understood that the construction of the unit 58 is in all essentials the same whether labels or wrappers are supplied.

Secured vertically between frame members 2 and 3 are a pair of supports 59. At the lower portion of these supports 59 and next to the frame member 2 is a longitudinal bar 68. Secured transversely to this bar 68 are a series of label respective support members 6|. Secured to the middles of the support members 59 are guide bars 62 which have, in their inner faces, dove-tailed grooves 63. Sliding in the respective dove-tailed grooves 63 are slide members 64 of dove-tail cross section, which, at their inner ends, have respective blocks 65, to each of which is secured a flexsupports an adhesive tank 34a.

ible spring member 66. Each spring member bears against a respective lateral part of a feed plate 61, which in turn presses against the rear of a supply of labels carried within the label holder 58. Each guide bar 62 carries a pair of paper guides 62a which bear lightly against the respective lateral edges of the At the outer end of each dove-tailed slide member 64 is a stud 69. Secured to the guide bars 62 on studs 10 are pulleys 10a. Secured to stud 69 and passing over the pulley 10a is a cable member 1 I, depending from the pulley 18 and having secured at its lower end a weight 12. V

The construction just described provides for a constant forward feed for the labels. In order that the labels may be removed from the front of the label holder, one at a time, it is necessary that they be freely, yet delicately, held within the label holder 58. The means provided for doing this will now be described.

Mounted in bar is a series of adjustable needle pointed retention members 19. These members have their. needle points so adjusted as to barely pass the lower edge of the supply of labels. At the top of the pile of labels is mounted an adjustable carrying bar 14 which is supported by studs 15 which are fastened in the frame member 3 and have, at their inward ends, each head 16. Between heads 16 and the bar 14 is a spring 11. Threaded through the frame member 3 and bearing against the bar 14 are a pair of adjusting screws 18. The bar 14 also carries a series of adjustable needle points 13, which project downward in the path of the labels. By means of the adjusting screws, this bar may be adjusted to the various positions necessitated by the varying widths of the label members. A

pair of bearing brackets 19, as shown in Figure,

1, are secured beneath the frame member 2. Mounted in the bearings-of these brackets there is a shaft 88. Secured to the shaft l2 there is a bevel gear 8|, which in turn meshes with a bevel gear 82 secured on the end of the shaft 80. At the opposite end of the shaft there is a gear 83. Secured to the frame member 2 at the rear of the machine is a bracket 84, which On the right hand side of the adhesive tank 84a bearing brackets 85 are mounted, which support a transverse shaft 86, the forward end of this shaft having secured to it a gear 86a which is in driving engagement with gear 83 and through gear 83 with the power shaft I2.

At the rear end of transverse drive shaft 86 is a bevel gear 81. The adhesive tank 84a has mounted within it, in hearings in its frame, a shaft 88 which extends outside the walls of the tank 84a and has secured on its projecting portion a bevel gear 89, which is in engagement with the bevel gear 81 of the transverse drive shaft 86.

Within the adhesive tank on the shaft 88 a driving pulley 9D is mounted. The lower portion of the driving pulley is in contact with the adhesive in tank 840.. On the frame members 2 and 3 are mounted bearing brackets 9| and 92 respectively, these bearing brackets carrying idler pulleys 93 and 94. Passing around the driving pulley 99 and extending over the idler pulleys 93 and 94 there is an adhesive distributing belt 95. When the'labeling machine is in operation,

this adhesive distributing belt 95 comes in contact with the adhesive in tank 84a and is coated thereby. Suitable scraper means is provided so that the coating of the belt 95 is in the amount labels or wrappers.

i by the belts l on can then starts on necessary to perform its work. It will be noted in observing Figures 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11, that this adhesive distributing belt 95 passes straight down in front of the labels and label holder d at one end, and is in wiping contact with the edge of the outermost label towards the delivery end of the labeling machine. Inwardly from this'belt on frame members 3 and 60 are'mounted rod holders 96. Secured .in these rod holders-there is a rod 91 which passes-vertically entirely across the opening of the label holder 58 and is in-bearing contact with the first label of the holder close to one side of belt 95. On the opposite side of the belt 95 towards the delivery end of the label machine, we have provided a spring clip 98. The spring clip is in bearing. contact with the extreine edge of the pile of labels retained within the holder 58.

Mounted on the bar 59 on the intake side of the label machine, is a light flexible holding member it, which is secured to the bar 59 by a nut 99, and the inner end. of' the flexible member 900 is in-bearing contact with the outermost label of the pile in the label holder 58. To the right of the label holder, as shown in Figure 1, a contact member NH is mounted. The inner face of this contact member has a thick, soft, rubber pad i102 securedto it, as shown in Figure 16, this pad I02 being adapted, as the cans in the machine pass in front of it, to exert a yielding pressure against the outer surface of the labels, thus assuring their adhering to the surface of the cans. Secured to the right hand end part of upper frame member 3 is a bracket E03 which supports one end of a guide member lot, the other end of which is secured to the contact member Hit.

The tail is for applying canned products. The

unit that has just been described in dethe designating labels to the machine by delivery belt 26, from which they are delivered to the track members 3i. In this delivery, the side of the can comes in contact with the traveling belt 5 which attempts to force the can sidewise. This sidewise movement is resisted by side rails 32, and as there is enough pressure by the belt on the can body to cause it to roll in a vertical position along the track members 38 and against side rail 32, and since the normal space between the side rails 32 and the path of the belt is less than the size of the can body, the idler rollers 29 and their shafts yield rearwardly, thuskeeping a steady pressure the can body at all times. The

its travel through the machine with a rotary motion on a vertical axis. As it passes the glue pot 3%, as shown in Figure 1, the adhesive applying discs 5d deposit short narrow spots of adhesiveon the sides of the can as seen in Fig. 6, and as the can passes on through the labeling machine, these adhesive spots come in contact with the innermost label of the label holder at. This label promptly adheres to the side of the can. As the can continues its rolling action, there is enough pull to the adhesive on the can to release this innermost label from the spring clip it and the needle points it. As the can continues its rotary traveling motion, the

label is wound around the body of the can. The can finally passes the curl rod 9'8 and pulls the end of the label from beneath the adhesive belt 95. As this end is completely covered with adhesive, and as the pulling action of the can on the label past the rod 95 causes a slight curl to cans having been properly filled and their covers applied, are delivered to the come into the label, the adhesive at once causes this end of the label to overlap and adhere to the opposite end of the label and thus completes the sealing of the label to the can. To insure a perfect contact between the adhesive, the label and the can, the can is "then rolled past the soft rubber pad N12, with sufficient pressure to v insure smoothing down of the label upon the can. The can then passes onward and is deposited by the belt 1 upon the delivery belt 26 where it passes onto the next unit of the combination,

which is the can wrapping unit.

One of the features of our invention is in the provision for the insertion of an additional supof labels or wrappers without stopping the machine. When the supply of labels reaches a minimum and it becomes necessary to replenish the supply, the additional labels are inserted in the label holder 58, to the rear of the feed plate 67!, the new supply of labels having a feed plate similar to the illustrated feed plate El, at their rear. The slide members 64 are then pulled back,

lifting the weights U2. The springs 65, which bear against the feed plate 61, beingflexible, flatten out and recede to slide past the additional supply of labels until they pass the edge of the second feed plate 61, when they snap back into the position shownin Figure 9, bearing against the second feed'plate 61, and, under the influence of the weights 12, again urging the labels forward.

The first feed plate 61 is now removed, and it will be observed that the forward feeding of the labels to the passing cans has been continued without interruption or the stoppage of the machine.

It is thusseen that the construction of our label holder permits the passage of cans to be labeled through the machine uninterruptedly for long periods.

The can wmppifig um't brackets carried by the lower frame members H3 and upper frame members H4. The frame members Hi3 and ti l are supported by the leg members i it. Keyed to vertical shaft I08 are grooved pulleys Hi9, forming a pair of driving pulleys. At the left hand end of the machine is a similar vertical shaft Ht having secured to it idler pulleys Hi. This shaft is not power driven but free to revolve under the influence of belts i 52 which are driven by pulleys 599. These belts H2, two in number, are in a. line with the body of the cans that are to be passed through the machine for wrapping, and serve as the propulsion means therefor.

Driven by bevel gearing from the power shaft ltd, at-the receiving end of the wrapping unit, is a vertical shaft tit. The shaft lit carries a bevel gear iii, which drives a rolli it, which in turn drives the belt 26, thus'conveying the cans from the labeling unit. The belt 28 and the belts M2 travel at the same speed; therefore, when the cans carried by the belt 26 pass a point coin- -ciding with the transverse central line of the puling against side rail members II9 (Figs. 11 and 12) which they pass in entering the wrapping machine and before they are gripped by the belts II2.

At the upper end of the vertical'shaft I I 6 there is a wrist plate I20, carrying a wrist pin I2I. To the right of vertical shaft H6, and mounted in bearings on the frame members II 3 and H4, there is a vertical shaft I22 which has secured to it, on a line with the center of the height of the can, a notched disc I23, the notches. of the disc being of a size to fit the body of a can.

Secured near the top of the vertical shaft I22,

'as shown in Figure 12, is a ratchet disc I24.

Mounted on the end of the vertical shaft- I22 and above the ratchet disc I24, is a pawl arm I25 having a spring actuated pawl I26 secured to its under side and in engaging position with the teeth of ratchet disc I24. On the upper face of the pawl arm is a pin I21 which serves as an actuating member for the pawl arm I25.

Secured to the upper frame member I I4 is a bra'cket member I28 supporting in-a groove in its extending bracket member, a, sliding bar I29 which, at the left hand end, has a forked portion I30, which engages a pin I21 of the ratchet pawl arm I25. Extending transversely from the sliding bar I29 is a latch lug I3I. Slidably mounted in a second groove in the bracket I28 is a guide bar I32 which has connected to it a rod I33 which terminates in a bearing I34'that is mounted on the wrist pin I2I. The guide bar I32, at its left end, has a bearing I35 which supports a gravity latch member I36. This latch member I 36 has a stud carrying a roller I31 on one side.

The bracket I28 has a bar I39 secured to its outward face by pivoted links I38. Normally the links I38 stand in a vertical position, but under certain conditions may swing to the left and downward, carrying the bar I39 to a lower pcsi tion, as will be later described.

Secured to one of the links I38 is alink rod I 40. Bolted to a frame member MI is a bracket I42 having mounted on it an angular swinging arm I43 which carries on one end, in the path of the moving cans, a roller I44, the opposite arm having an upward extension I45 having a hole therein for the passage of one end of the link rod I40. The link rod I40 has a collar I46 on the right of the upward extension I45, as shown in Figure 12, and a coiled spring I41 bears against the left face of the extension I 45 and against a collar I48 on the end of link rod I40.

The operation of the mechanisms just set forth above will now be described.

The cans being delivered by the belt 26 from the labeling machine are grasped by the belts I I2 and move on into the wrapping machine. As they leave the belt, they are supported on rods I50, at their bottoms, these rods extending only to a point near the wrapper supply holder I81, as will be described later. Belts II2 are intermediately supported by yielding guide rollers I49, having the same construction as has been described for the same mechanisms in the labeling unit, and it is to be noted that the lower belt H2 is deflected and passes on the outside of the first yielding shaft, as is best seen in Figures 4 and 13. This is desirable so that if the can is stopped (as will be explained later), the sliding of the ,belt across the face of the label while the can is standing still, will be avoided, the upper belt being allowed to contact with the can at a point where there is no label, and its sliding action therefore not marring or wrinkling the label.

The shaft II6 makes one revolution for each revolution of the drive shaft I06; consequently the wrist plate I20 likewise makes the same ratio of turns. As the wrist pla'te I20 turns, the wrist pin I2I causes the rod I33 to move the guide bar I32 back and forth in the slot of the bracket I28, the roller I31 of the gravity latch I36 riding back and forth on the bar I39, and the gravity latch I 36 being held in a non-effective position.

As a can passes further along into the wrapping machine, it reaches the notched disc I 23 and is stopped thereby, the belt I'I2 continuing to urge the cans on without effect. Asv a second can reaches the stopped can, it, too, is stopped, its position being as indicated in Figure 11. In this position the roller I44 is held in a depressed posltion so long as the can is held. It should be noted that the depression of the roller I44 swings the angular arm I43 on its pivot and the upward extension I45 compresses the spring I41 against the collar I 48 on the rod I40, causing this rod to swing the bar I39 downward from theposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 12, to the position shown in full line, thus lowering the roller I31 on the gravity latch I36 and bringing the latch into the path of the transverse extending latch lug I3I of the sliding bar I29. If at the time the can depresses the roller I44, the position of travel of the wrist pin I2I be at a point where the grav= ity latch falls to the left of latch lug I3I, nothing happens, the gravity latch riding idly to the left, and as the wrist plate passes the center and the latch again starts forward, the sloping end of the gravity latch I36 rides over the latch lug I3i thus lifting the gravity latch I36 momentarily; and as the right hand travel of the latch continues, drops it behind the latch lug I3I.

As the wrist plate pin I2I again passes the cen= ter and the rod I33 again pulls the gravity latch to the left, the hooking of the latch over the latch lug I3I pulls the bar I29 to the left, the forked end I30 pushing the pin I 21 to the left, and, by means of the pawl I26 and its engagement with the ratchet disc I24, giving the shaft I22 and notched disc I23 one quarter turn. As the notched disc I23 makes its turn, the can bearing against one of its fingers I5I passes into the notch of the disc and is carried to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, the wrist I2 I and its connections being then in a position to the left of its transverse center which is the reverse of the position shown in Figure 11. As the wrist I2I and its connections pass the left center and start forward, as shown in Figure 12, the latch member I 36 in its lowered position on the sliding bar I32 immediately strikes the latch lug I3I and slides the bar I29 to the right with its fork I30 acting on pin I21 and retracting the ratchet arm I25 and its pawl I26 to the right as best seen in Fig. 4. At the extreme right of the movement, the pawl I26 is in position behind a ratchet tooth on the ratchet disc I24.

If a third can has not been delivered by the belt 26 to the wrapping machine, as the first can is moved into the notched disc I 23 and is carried to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, the second can moves forward and comes to rest in the position that was occupied by the first can against the point of finger I5I of the notched disc I 23, releasing the roller I44, whereupon it is returned to the initial position by the spring I53. This movement causes the upward extention I45 of the angular arm to push against the collar I46, thus causing the rod I40 to move to the right and restore the bar I 39 to its normal up position, thus lifting the gravity latch 36 free from thelatch lug IIII. As the plate continues its turning, the sliding :bar I32; moves back and forth in its slot in the bracket I28 and on the glue pot mechanism drive shaft 7 by adhesive ape.

the roller I31 of the-gravity latchi I36 rides along the bar I39, and the forward andreverse travel its power from shaft I I6, bevel gears I56 (Fig. 131,

pulley I55 drive pulley I51, belt I58 and to I60. Adhesive is applied to the ca: plying discs, as is 'doneby the adhesive'applying discs :1 of the'labeling unit. i As has been previously stated, can support rods 5% I50 end at the edge of the wrapper supply unit,

this being necessary since the wrapper papers are Ei longer'than the total height of the can; It then becomes necessary that a support for' the cans be provided while the wrapper is being applied f and that the support be individual for each can .by bevel gearing I63 (Figs.

and further, that the support travel with the can until the wrapper is partially folded over the top and bottom of the can.- It may be here stated that this traveling support has no part in causing the can to'travel through the wrapping machine, that function: being performed by belts I I2 at all times until the can reaches the final delivery belt.

Supported by lower frame members II3 are bearing brackets I6I, one of these'bra'ckets at the right hand end carrying a drive shaft I52 driven 1 and 16) from the main drive shaft I06. Mounted on drive shaft I62 is a sprocket wheel I64, the hub of this sprocket wheel I64 Having a female clutch member I65 bolted to it. Keyed to the drive shaft I62 and in engaging contact with the female clutch member IE5, is a male clutch member I66. Held by a disc passes with timed regularity;

collar; I61 fast on drive shaft I62, is plate E58,.-

and in the space between the plate I68 and clutch member IE6 is a soft/rubber disc lfisfthis disc'of rubber supplying a yielding element for the clutch members andipermitting the drive sprocket I641 to stand idle'in the event that any of the parts Jam. i

' Bearing brackets I61 at the left hand end of the wrapping machine carry a shaftIII having mounted at its center a second sprocket wheel I12. The shaft has on the outer end a hand wheel I13 for manual timing adjustment of the'mec'nanisms now to be described.

Passing around the sprocket wheels Ifi and I12 is a sprocket chain I10, this chain having in spaced relationship series of bearing links I15, these bearing links' -havingsidewise extending guide plates I16, best seen in Figs. 13 and 16. Mounted in the bearing links I15 are a series of curved arms I11, each arm carrying an adjustable stool p'ertion I18 and having, near the center of its length, a slot I19. Adjustably secured in this slot is a roller or pin I80. Carried by a series of braicketsiiiibolted to lower frame pieces I15, is a track member I02 having curved ends I63 which act as guides for the roller pins I80 I11. Near the top ofbrackets I61 are channel members I84 which serve as a guide and track for the sidewiseextendingguide plates I16 on thebearing links 15. The rear bracket ISI has at its lower end an angle plate I85 forming a guide-way for one side of the bearing links, it

not being necessary to support both sides of this link I15 at the lower plane of travel for the bearing links.; An upper guide member I06 (Fig. 19) is provided for rollers I80 when they are in their upper path of travel.

As has been stated, the cans as they pass the wrapping paper supply must be carried by mechanism that will not interfere with the application of the wrapper paper. The mechanisms ,iust described perform that function, as will now be set ferth.

The travel of the stools I18 is in timed relation to the releasing of the cans by notched disc I23, because crank I20 is driven by the same shaft I05 that drives the stools Figs. 3 and 19 show that as the lower sprocket chain travels to the left (Fig. 13), the rollers on curved arnis I11 ride along on guide track member I82, thus keeping the curved arms and their stools I13 in the retracted position'shown in Figs; 3 and 19. When the arms and rollers reach the curved end I83, the rollers follow the contour of the curved end and when links I15 pass above the center of sprocket wheel I12, they drop onto the curved end of guide member I66 and carry up to the. level portionof the guide jrnember I86, to the position shownin Figs. 3 and 19. Just as the level portion of the guide member I86 is reached, the stools I18 on curved arms I11 come in contact with a can bottom, as is shown in Fig. 3, and asis shown by the dotted can in Fig. 19. The can and the stool members continue their travel in unison, the can at first being supported by,

the rails I50 and then by the stool I18. When the ends of rails I50 are reached, the stool membegs I18 continue to support the can until further operations are completed, as will be set forth.

When the weight of the can and its contents come upon the stools I18, any tendency of sprocket chain I to sag under the load is prevented bysthe sidewise extending guide plates I16 on the bearing links I as they move :along in the channel members I84. As the stools I18 reach a position well to the right of the wrapping paper supply; the rollers I80 on arms 411 follow the guide member I86 which, at the right hand end, also has a curved portion which guides the rollers and their arms onto the; curved. end of lower track member I82 as is to be seen in Fig. 3.

A can, having been released by notched disc I2 3, passes the adhesive applying discs in glue pot and the-bottom of the can has come in contact with a carrying stool member. It is now. ready to pick up a wrapper paper from the wrapping paper supply unit5I81.

As haslbeen stated, the wrapper supply unit I 81 is in all respects identical with the one which has beenidescribed in detail for supplying labels to the cansas they pass through thelabeling unit, the wrapping papers being held by the same adjustable needle points13j. They have adhesive applied te the lapping edge by an adhesive applying belt 95, and have a curl rod 01, as are found in the label holder unit 58. The spring clip I00 is, however, not present in the wrapping paper holder I55, there being in its place a retractable clip which will now be describede Secured on vertical shaft H6 at the at hand I55, and has adhesive applied to its surface,-

end of the wrapping machine, as seen in Fig. 3, 7

rod I92 is a spring I 94, which bears against bracket I93 and against a collar I95 secured to rod I92. This construction holds the roller I90 in engaging contact with cam I88 at all times.

To the left of wrapper supply unit I91 and mounted in bearings secured to frame members H3 and- H4, is a vertical shaft I96; this shaft 'having secured near its lower portion by pinning, a hub I91, this hub having an outwardly extending arm I98, this outwardly extending arm being connected to the right hand end of rod I92 and operated thereby. Hub I91 has extending inwardly, a finger I99, this finger extending I to the right in the path of the wrapper papers at their left hand edge, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and xi 24. The finger I99 appears also in Fig. 10, and, since this is a face view of the wrapper paper unit I81, the finger I99 appears at the right hand side.

When the can body reaches the wrapper paper 3 unit I81, the adhesive on the can body picks up the outermost sheet of the wrapper paper supply and, as the can body revolves, under the influence of belts II2, starts to wrap the wrapper paper around the can body. At the instant the near edge of a wrapper paper is picked up by the can body, the timing of finger I99 is such that the finger is retracted in an arc'by the operation of the cam I88 as it turns, permitting the roller to move to the low part of the cam I88 and the spring urges-rod I92 to the right, thus swinging finger I99 clear of the wrapper adhering .to the can body. Just as soon as the edge of the wrapper paper is in the clear, the finger I 99 is quickly returned to its position holding the near edge of the remaining wrapper papers from any possibility,-through static influence or otherwise, vo-f attempting to follow the wrapper paper adhering to the revolving traveling can body.

The can body continues its rotary. travel to the right (Figs. 3 and 4) under the influence of belts I I2, wrapping the wrapper paper around the can body.

When the far edge of the wrapper paper is reached, the adhesive having been applied by the same method and mechanism as was set forth for the label of the labeling unit, the continued travel of the canbody, still supported on stools I18, carries the can body past a contact or smoothing unit 200, having a soft rubber pad to bear against the can body and its wrapper, as has been fully set forth in thedescription of a .like contact or smoothing unit IOI on the labeling unit.

When the can body and its wrapper have passed the length of the smoothing unit 200, the stool member I18 leaves the bottom of the can as the mechanism heretofore described starts down the curved track surface I82, the can i'mmediately passing into the top and bottom wrapper folder units 20I (Figs. 3, 4 and gear 2I3 on main drive shaft I06. 'drives a delivery belt 2I3 upon which the cans are deposited as they leave the folding unit 20I. belts I I2 carrying the cans well onto the belt 2I3,

is the same width as the can body and fills the space between the upper and lower folder fingers 202 of the folder unit 20I. As the can body passes into the folder unit 20I, the body of the can bears against this guide plate 205, and as the can body passes into channels fOrmed by the top and bottom folder fingers 202 and guide plate 205, the extended portions 201 of the wrapper paper are struck by the first pair of fingers 202 and deflected against the top and bottom of the can body and, as the can continues its travel to the right, the edge 20B of the fold of wrapper paper extension 201 is caught by the next folding finger 202 and the slot 209 between the fingers, and thus, section by section, folding of the extended portions 201 of the wrapper paper continues until the can body has reached the end of folding unit 20I.

An inspection of Figure 22 shows the successive series of folds over the top portion of the can body. The bottom portion is similarly folded.

It is to be notedinFigure21'that the top of the can illustrated has an,upstanding rim 2I0, this rim being present at the bottom of the can body also, thus forming a depressed top and bottom portion.

At the right of folder unit 20I is a roll 2I I, this roll being carried *in bearings on frame member H3 and driven by bevel gearing 2 I2 from a bevel This roll as is shown in Fig. 4. The cans are kept central on this belt by side plates 2I4.

To the right beyond drive roll 2 and belowthe delivery belt 2 I3 is a second roll 2I5, this roll being supported in bearings on frame member .I I3 and driven by a bevel gear drive 2I6 from a bevel gear 2I1 on the end of drive, shaft I06. Carried on frame members I I3 are a pair of brackets 2I8. Mounted in adjustable bearings 2I9 in the brackets 2I8, is a soft rubber roll 220, this roll having a rearwardly extending shaft 22I. The roll 2I5 also has a rearwardly extending shaft portion having secured to it a. bevel gear 222, this bevel gear 222 driving a bevel gear fastened on a vertical, shaft 223, carried in bearing on rear bracket 2I8, the upper end of this vertical shaft 223 having a bevel gear 224 in engagement with the bevel gear 225 on roll shaft 22 I. The soft rubber roll 220 is thus driven from the drive shaft I06 by means of the bevel gear trains just described.

As the belt 2I3 carries the wrapped cans to the right, they pass between the lower roll 2I5, which is a hard roll, and the soft rubber upper roll 220, the folded wrapping paper on the ends of the cans being depressed tightly inside the rims 2I0, as shown in Fig. 22, thus locking the folds of the paper and delivering a neatly and tightly wrapped can. a

After the cans pass through the rolls 2I5 and 220, they are carried by belt 2I3 to such other operationsas they may require.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--- a 1. A machine of the class described having in combination, guiding means for guiding cylindrical containers as said containers are conveyed through the machine, feeding means for intermittently admitting the containers to said machine, a belt receiving the containers from said feeding means and movable in a. horizontal plane in such spaced position relative to said guiding means as to frictionally bear against the sides of containers in upright position and to cause through the machine, conveying means for moving the containers through said machine comprising a belt movable in a horizontal plane in such spaced position relative to said guiding means as to frictionally bear against the sides of containers in upright position and to cause said containers to be advanced with continuous rotary movement about vertical axes, said means including a rising and falling bottom support for the containers.

3. In combination with a machine for wrapping cylindrical containers, a feed control comprising a pawl and ratchet driven wheel with notches of a size to fit containers being fed, a reciprocating eccentric drive for said pawl, an eccentric drive for said last mentioned drive, and stock actuated selective coupling means between said two last mentioned drives;

4. In combination with a machine for wrap-, ping cylindrical containers, a feed control comprising a pawl and ratchet driven wheel with [notches of a size to fit containers being fed, a

reciprocating eccentric drive for said pawl; an eccentric drive for said last mentioned drive, and stock actuated-selective coupling means between said two last mentioned-drives so disposed that coupling only occurs when more than one container is in position for entry to the notched wheel.

' the containers during their movement, and means for supporting a supply of container wrappers in vertical position with an outer wrapper exposed flatwise to contact with the sides of a container during its movement through the machine.

6. A machine of the class described, having a conveyor provided with means contacting the circular ends of cylindrical containers only in areas spaced inwardly from their peripheries and for moving the containers in upright position in a substantially horizontal path through the machine, and for permitting the continuous rotation of the containers during their movement, regulating means for enforcing travel of the containers in definite groups, means for supporting a supply of container wrappers in vertical position withan outer wrapper exposed flatwise and so located as to contact said wrapper with a con- 'tainer' during its movement through the machine directly from said regulating means, said means for moving said containers comprising an endless belt moving in a horizontal plane and arranged to frictionally engage side wallsof said containers.

'7. In a machine for wrapping cylindrical containers with the wrappers extending beyond the gage circular ends of the containers and leave space for turning in the wrappers across said ends, a feeding device for feeding containers to said conveyor, and means effective for inhibiting said feeding device excepting when more than one container is on the conveyor in position to be placed thereby in correct position to be received by successively arriving supports of the conveyor.

vice for feeding containers in upright position to said conveyor, and means efiective for inhibiting said feeding device excepting when more than one container is on the conveyor in position to be placed thereby in correct position to be received by successively arriving supports of the conveyor.

9. In a machine for wrapping containers with wrappers extending beyond theends of the containers, a conveyor comprising supports at intervals therealong, to engage ends of respective containers and leave space for turning the wrap pers across said ends, and a feeding device for feeding said containers in definitely spaced groups whereby the containers will coincide with successively arriving supports of the conveyor.

10. In a machine for wrapping cylindrical containers-with wrappers extending beyond the circular ends of the containers, a conveyor comprising supports at intervals therealong, to engage ends of respective containers and leave space for turning the wrappers across said ends, and a feeding device comprising means to extend partially around each one of a group of containers, said feeding device being eifective to group said containers in definite arrangement to be received by said means, and being timed in relation to the operation of said conveyor to deliver the containers due to the partial extension of said means therearound, so that the contain ers will coincide with successively arriving supports' of the conveyor.

11. In a machine for wrapping cylindrical containers with wrappers extending beyond the circular ends of the containers, a conveyor comprising supports at intervals therealong, to engage ends of respective containers and leave space for turning the wrappers across said ends, and a rotary device comprising means to extend partially around each' one of a group of containers for advancing the containers toward a point of meeting with said supports, said device being efiective to arrange the containers for the partial extension of the means around the respective containers, and being timed, in relation to the movement of said conveyor, so that containers advanced by said means coincidewith the successively arriving supports of said conveyor.

12. In a machine for wrapping cylindrical containers with wrappers extending beyond their circular ends, a conveyor'comprising supports at intervals therealong, to engage ends of respective containers and leave space for turning the wrappers across said ends, means for feeding con) tainers at timed intervals to coincide with successively arriving supports of the conveyor, means to apply the wrappers around the containers with means to turn said portions across said ends, and

means between which the containers pass, with their ends presented to said means to press the turned portions of the wrappers to the ends.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12, in which the means between which the containers pass for pressing the turned portions of the wrappers to the ends of containers comprises two rollers, one at least of which is of soft material, to indent the turned portion of the wrapper into a depression in the end of the container, said roller of soft material being positively driven in addition to the driving of the container between the rollers.

14. A machine of the class described having a conveyor provided with means for individually engaging cylindrical containers only within their wrapper exposed flatwise to contact with the areas of the containers other than the aforementioned areas during their movement through the machine by said individually engaging means and means for regulating the order of approach of said containers through said engaging means.

FORESTUS Rem.

HENRY HEITLAGE. 15 

